Job Details

Sales Director - Wine Industry

Our client is a revolutionary beverage process technology company delivering cutting-edge processing solutions to producers across the drinks industry that improve taste, aroma and mouthfeel. They are seeking a driven and entrepreneurial Sales Director to take ownership of their sales efforts in the wine industry. This person must have a deep passion for wine perhaps a certified Sommelier and be genuinely excited to share the company's mission and product with major players in the winemaking world. This is a rare opportunity to join a high-growth company, and comes with the opportunity to build relationships, shape go-to-market strategy, and directly influence the company's trajectory in the wine industry.

This is a remote role with a strong preference for candidates to be based in Northern California Wine Country.

Responsibilities

- Own and drive all sales activity within the wine industry, targeting vineyards, wineries, ngociants, custom crush facilities, and bulk wine producers across key growing regions - Build deep, trust-based relationships with winemakers, production managers, procurement leads, and ownership groups, understanding their cost and quality challenges and positioning the company's technology as the solution - Identify, qualify, and close new business opportunities across the full wine production ecosystem, from small artisan producers to large-scale commercial operations - Develop and execute a regional and national sales strategy in close partnership with company leadership, with a focus on sustainable pipeline growth and repeatable deal velocity - Serve as the primary voice of the wine customer internally relaying market feedback, influencing product positioning, and helping shape how the company's solutions are adapted for wine-specific applications - Represent the company at wine industry trade shows, associations, and regional events (e.g., Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Wine Industry Network conferences) to build brand presence and generate leads - Maintain accurate pipeline forecasting, CRM hygiene, and sales reporting to support leadership decision-making - Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, operations, marketing and customer success teams to ensure seamless implementation and long-term client satisfaction

Qualifications

- 710+ years of experience in or closely adjacent to the wine industry, with a strong preference for candidates who have sold machinery, processing equipment, filtration systems, tanks, or other capital or technical equipment to wineries or wine producers - Sommelier or other wine certification is a plus; a discerning and sophisticated palate, and a deep knowledge of and passion for wine is required - Deep familiarity with winery operations and the wine production process from crush and fermentation through clarification, aging, blending, and bottling - Proven track record of success in B2B sales, account management, and new business development, ideally with complex or consultative sales cycles - Existing relationships within the wine industry are a significant advantage a warm rolodex of winery contacts, production leads, or procurement decision-makers will accelerate success in this role - Bonus points for hands-on winemaking experience or formal viticulture/enology training, which would lend credibility and depth when engaging technical buyers - Familiarity with wine-specific processing considerations such as must handling, SO2 management, tartrate stabilization, or membrane filtration is a plus - Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate technical product capabilities into clear business value for both technical and non-technical stakeholders - Self-starter mentality with the ability to operate independently in a high-growth, entrepreneurial environment

Compensation

Targeting a base in the low $100s with all-in compensation (including commissions and equity) north of $200k